Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Last week I lost the family Pomeranian to a Cottonmouth in our backyard. Our lot backs up to a lake (near Baton Rouge) so we are sure to have plenty of Cottonmouths. I always thought before they would get out of the way long before they would present a danger, but I'm pretty worried about our kids.

I was thinking about buying a few Speckled Kingsnakes to release in the woods nearby in the hope of reducing the nearby Cottonmouth population. Does this make sense to y'all or would I be wasting my time?

Thanks for the help!

First of all - it may be illegal.
Any captive snake potentially carries pathogens not present.
Check with your local laws.

Secondly, if the habitat could support more kings than you currently have, there probably would be more kings than you currently have. Snakes generally over produce, producing more offspring than the habitat can support. Whatever the habitat can support is what makes it to adult-hood, the rest either die or leave the area in search of a new home.

Sorry about your dog.
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x.y L. getula californiae (Cal. King)
x.y L. getula nigrita (MBK)
x.y L. getula floridana (Brooksi)
x.y Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
0.1 Heterodon nasicus (W Hognose)
x.y.z Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

It would be even Steven, as the cottonmouths would also consume the kings, as is their want. I wouldn't buy any, you have the best damn speckleds all around you! Get out and flip some trash piles around you.

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Todd Hughes

The average adult cottonmouth is bigger than the average adult speckled king - and will gladly eat it.

Tim

Third Eye

Wow Tim!,That's one clean eastern you have,locality?? Jeff

It's a VA locality. My female laid eggs for the first time this year, but they were all bad. Maybe I'll have better luck in 2008.

Tim

There is only one way- clear the property along the water and clean up any cover. If your yard is fenced, seeing how your dog and kids play there, maybe get a couple of geese? They will become very territorial and would not hesitate to chase off or harass anything in "their" yard. Teach your kids to be able to identify and be aware of all snakes, and to leave them alone.

due to the size difference between specks and water moccasins, mostly the larger kings are eating the smaller pit vipers - not an answer to your problem. clean up any cover (weeds, etc.) that hide the rats, mice, etc that the snakes are feeding on. this is probably what's drawing them. if you can, get some geese or guinea hens - they'll tend to harrass snakes

I must say,
Just shy of brilliant contributions.
You must share the thoughts of others more often.

Brilliant?
Little ol me?

Sorry, didn't see your post before I stuck mine on there. Should have looked closer, my bad.

I’m just bustin ya. We might want to mention the geese might chase the kids out of the yard too...

SSSSSSSHHH!!!
Man, you ruined it.

Yeah, geese an guinea's can pretty much take over a yard, but the geese are a bit meaner. And hey - I had it coming. Teach me to read ALL the responses before I stick one on there.